Kestrel

I haven't dressed up in years and wanna do something cool

James Inhofe, former Republican senator who called climate change a ‘hoax’, dies aged 89

Inhofe resigned as senator for Oklahoma in January 2023, suffering long-term effects of Covid-19.

His widely ridiculed snowball stunt came in 2015, during a rambling speech in which he claimed climate conditions on Earth were the work of a supreme being, and attempted to discredit a Nasa report that found that 2014 was the hottest year recorded globally to date.

“My point is, God’s still up there,” Inhofe said during a 2012 interview during promotion for his book focusing on global warming as “a conspiracy”.

“The arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is, to me, outrageous.”

Following the scandal over US service members photographed abusing prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison in 2004, Inhofe said he “was more outraged at the outrage” than the torture of the inmates.

Last month, the City of Alameda blocked scientists from continuing basic research into an experimental approach that may, one day, slow global warming.

The research was being done by atmospheric scientists from the University of Washington, and a nonprofit called SilverLining. SilverLining is funded by a consortium of philanthropic foundations and individual donors. Despite the researchers' credentials, the city council remained skeptical and voted unanimously to halt the work.

"We need to know more about this before you come to our city and start these experiments," concluded Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft.

Marine cloud brightening is a scalable potentially majorly helpful mitigation strategy to keep us from going completely off the tipping points rails and this dip shit city council said you can't do research because you haven't done enough research

Transcribed from ep 847

"He's doing okay... he and I hang out pretty frequently. He's got some mobility issues and unfortunately some aphasia."

"...But I'm over at his place every week doing readings about the Seven Years War and having fairly high level conversations with him about like the spread of global capitalism in the 18th century. Just not really in a way that is mic ready right now. We'll see... I mean we're working on it. We're making a little progress every week. I see a path, I just have no idea what the timetable for any of this could be, and I don't think he does either, so hopefully updates when we have it..."

He also said they're putting out a book based on the Spanish Civil War episode scripts edited into a nice looking book. Limited run, with proceeds going to support Matt, his recovery, and his family. Preorder available sometime next month.

We used to have binary sex, but now we have identity flex

We used to have traditional norms, now we have diversity storms

This is hilarious. The U.S. Corps of Engineers has dangled a $42 million carrot to replenish sand on beaches in front of expensive houses but the homeowners don't want it at the expense of having to create public access easements (because federal dollars can only go towards improving public, not private, beaches). This town is going to get annihilated by the next big storm because these little tyrants want to keep their beaches private.

and transitions into a new egalitarian way of being that will stave off the climate crisis and being everything into harmony"

Like how many words do you need to reinvent the thing. A lot of those types are just ignorant libs who need a push, but I think some of them, like Roger Halan or Jem Bendell, are maybe avoiding saying the words intentionally for any number of reasons.

Sonic the Hedgehog is not just a beloved video game character; he's a cultural icon with layers of meaning waiting to be explored through the lens of "Demiurgic Sociocultural Realism." This exciting framework brings together diverse perspectives like Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism, Ian Wright's Dark Eucharist concept, Slavoj Žižek's insights on ideology and fantasy, and the Marxist conception of capital as a demiurge.

In Sonic's universe, we see echoes of capitalist realism, where certain norms and structures are ingrained and accepted as part of the natural order. The iconic act of collecting rings in Sonic games takes on a deeper meaning within this framework, symbolizing not just a game mechanic but also the pursuit of material wealth and success, mirroring real-world capitalist pursuits.

Ian Wright's Dark Eucharist concept adds a fascinating layer to Sonic's adventures. The ritualistic act of Sonic collecting rings becomes a form of consumption that sustains his ability to progress and survive in the game world. It's like Sonic's own version of a power-up, tied to the larger narrative of capitalist realism where material accumulation is often central to achieving goals and overcoming challenges.

When we look at Sonic's narratives and character arcs through Slavoj Žižek's ideas, we uncover themes of ideology and fantasy. Sonic's heroic quest to thwart Dr. Robotnik's oppressive rule becomes a fantastical narrative of resistance against dominant ideologies and power structures. This resonates deeply with players, tapping into our desires for empowerment and agency in challenging unjust systems.

Furthermore, viewing capital as a demiurge in Sonic's quests sheds light on the overarching influence of power structures. Dr. Robotnik's relentless pursuit of control, often symbolized by his quest for the Chaos Emeralds, mirrors the capitalist demiurge's drive for control and accumulation of capital at the expense of others. Sonic's role as a challenger to this hegemony becomes even more significant in this context.

In conclusion, "Demiurgic Sociocultural Realism" invites us to embark on a thrilling journey of exploration and analysis, uncovering the hidden depths and cultural resonances of Sonic the Hedgehog. It's not just about high-speed platforming; it's about unraveling the layers of meaning and societal reflections that make Sonic a timeless and captivating character in the world of gaming and beyond!

Link to the project: https://www.openinterpreter.com/01

Link to the GitHub: https://github.com/OpenInterpreter/01

Get in here losers

We're dunking on everything